Related articles

The petition states: “Local pharmacies are a vital front-line health service and part of the fabric of communities … we urge the Prime Minister and Health Secretary to abandon plans that put services at risk.”

Ian Strachan, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association which organised the campaign, said: “Pharmacists perform a very important role preventing ill health and giving people access to professionals while taking pressure off the rest of the overstretched health service.

"The Department of Health has misjudged how people feel. Patients value face-to-face support.”

The petition has been welcomed by a growing number of MP’s who oppose the cuts and have launched a parliamentary debate to oppose them.

GETTY

The petition is a bid to keep pharmacists on our high streets

GETTY

The petition will be delivered to Prime Minister David Cameron next month

Patients value face-to-face support

Ian Strachan

Conor McGinn, Labour MP for St Helens North, said: “Planned cuts to community pharmacies will have a devastating impact. They play a vital role safeguarding public health.

"With the NHS stretched to breaking point and more people waiting longer in A&E, cuts to community pharmacies will make a bad situation even worse.

“Government cuts are a false economy. Community pharmacies save the NHS money and help ease pressure on doctors’ surgeries and A&E units.”

GETTY

The petition has been welcomed by a growing number of MP’s who oppose the cuts

Funding for chemists is almost all derived from the NHS with each allocated an annual budget depending on how many prescriptions it dispenses and other services it provides.

The cuts come as Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and senior officials urge people to make better use of pharmacies instead of seeing their doctor.

The Government has not earmarked any particular pharmacies for closure but health minister Alistair Burt warned MPs that up to 3,000 could shut.